Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Kathryn had fought back.

At first, when her adoptive brothers beat her, she resisted with everything she had.

They were older and stronger, but she refused to go down without a fight. She threw anything she could get her hands on at them.

One time, she even grabbed a hatchet and chased them across the village.

They were terrified.

Even when her adoptive mother tried to punish her on their behalf, Kathryn didn't back down-she raised the hatchet and swung at her, too.

Her defiance finally shocked them into submission.

After that, they never dared to lay a hand on her again.

But she still had to live in that house, relying on them for food and shelter. The abuse didn't stop-it just took different forms. She was always hungry, always cold, never given decent clothes or a proper place to sleep.

And her adoptive father, the man who had brought her into that family, never once stepped in. He never defended her.

Kathryn hated him the most.

later died of a so-called

the truth-her biological mother had arranged for

pity. If anything, she

family, her adoptive mother

to drain her

never gave them

reunited with the Farrells, she had already built a successful business and was worth tens of

a secret from her adoptive family. She had no intention of helping them. No intention

tormented her for years-why should she lift a

She wasn't a saint.

gently touched her face, his heart aching. "Miss, none of that will ever happen again." Then he stood

gone down a lot," he

she had been beaten,

of Pedro tending to her with ice packs, the

about Wiltspoon? Or Annenburg? It doesn't get too

thought for a moment. "If it's too hot, we can turn on the air conditioner. But the cold? If

had endured as a child,

to suffer

and became wealthy that she finally had warmth-heated buildings, a car to get

got frostbite